When will Atiku report himself to Trump?” – Presidency fires back

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Presidency has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that his lobbyists in the United States petitioned President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress over President Bola Tinubu’s past civil forfeiture case.

It accused Atiku of undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty and pursuing personal political ambitions.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s alleged move as unbecoming of an elder statesman and said it reflected a desperate quest for the presidency at the expense of Nigeria’s national image.

According to Onanuga, Atiku’s “relentless desire” to become president had “closed his eyes to the virtues of statesmanship, decorum and propriety expected of an elder statesman.”

“It is baffling and disappointing that someone who has sought the presidency for over three decades now resorts to reporting the President of Nigeria to US President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress,” Onanuga said.

He said Atiku’s lobbying group in the United States submitted petitions relating to Tinubu’s 1993 civil forfeiture case, describing the matter as one that had been settled decades ago.

“This issue was resolved over 30 years ago in the United States and has been thoroughly litigated, explained and rendered moot by the electoral mandates conferred on President Bola Tinubu by the people of Lagos and Nigeria at large,” he said.

Onanuga argued that reviving the case amounted to “an affront to the intelligence of Nigerians” and an attempt to “rewrite history for personal gain.”

The presidential spokesman maintained that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose domestic political issues should not be taken before foreign governments.

“It is important to remind Atiku and his associates that Nigeria is a sovereign nation, not a satellite of any foreign power. Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence,” he stated.

He added that while lobbying is a legitimate feature of American politics, “employing paid foreign agents to peddle discredited documents against a sitting Nigerian President is not advocacy—it is an attempt to externalise domestic politics and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.”

Onanuga said the issues surrounding Tinubu’s eligibility had already been decided by Nigerian voters during the 2023 presidential election and subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court.

“Nigerians resolved this matter at the ballot in February 2023 and in the Supreme Court. That verdict stands, and Atiku’s latest fishing expedition would amount to nought,” he said.

The presidential aide also challenged Atiku to address allegations relating to his own past dealings in the United States.

“Furthermore, if Atiku Abubakar can spend $1.2 million on American lobbyists to report President Tinubu, perhaps he should also clarify his own legal standing in the United States,” Onanuga said.

He said that Atiku featured prominently in the William Jefferson bribery scandal and was among the subjects of a 2010 US Senate investigation titled Keeping Foreign Corruption Out of the United States: Four Case Histories.

According to Onanuga, the report documented allegations that Atiku used offshore companies to move suspect funds, including alleged bribes from multinational companies, into the United States.

The presidential spokesman further accused the former vice president of seeking the presidency to shield himself from potential legal challenges abroad.

“Atiku’s obsession with the presidency is driven not just by his ambition, but by a desire for diplomatic immunity and to evade potential legal issues abroad,” he claimed.

Onanuga also criticised Atiku’s record during the privatisation programme under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, alleging that national assets were sold to cronies at undervalued prices, resulting in job losses and unpaid entitlements.

He argued that rather than offering policy alternatives to address Nigeria’s challenges, the former vice president had chosen “the path of media theatrics and lobbying in Washington.”

“The challenges Nigeria faces require serious engagement, thoughtful solutions and leadership at home—not grandstanding abroad,” he said.

Onanuga said President Tinubu remains focused on implementing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stabilising the economy, attracting investments, improving national security and restoring Nigeria’s international standing.

“President Tinubu is unfazed by Atiku’s theatrics as he remains focused on his Renewed Hope Agenda… He is not distracted by political actors, perennial losers like Atiku, who now seek validation abroad,” Onanuga stated.